Women and the Law 2020

The 19th Amendment and its legacy: Fights remain for voting inclusivity

The 2020 display of female political power came in the centennial year of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, passed by Congress in 1919 and ratified by two-thirds of the states in 1920, which granted women the right to vote. It was a fitting coda to a 100-year-old story about women achieving access to the ballot box.

Jan 25, 2021 9:07 AM CST

Lawyer and author shares her holiday wishes for women lawyers

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there are more than 400,000 women lawyers in America today, and women comprise more than 36% of practicing lawyers. Women are working at all levels of practice and in every specialty area. They are smart, competent, thorough, dedicated and much more. But that does not mean it is easy for any of them.

Dec 23, 2020 11:17 AM CST

Law firms must do more effective damage control to survive

When I sat down to write this column, my thoughts were interrupted by a mechanical noise coming from my backyard. It was the comforting sound of the weekly “test run” of the generator that keeps our house powered during electrical outages.

Oct 26, 2020 3:10 PM CDT

Racial disparities in maternal mortality are exacerbated by COVID-19

New concerns about maternal risks in pregnancy emerged as COVID-19 plowed its way across the country this year. Maternal mortality across the spectrum shows stunning increases in the United States. The number of deaths has risen while declining in almost every other nation.

Oct 1, 2020 2:00 AM CDT

What I learned from Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Last week, we lost a giant—a giant who stood just a little more than 5 feet tall and who made the world a better place for all of us. She will be remembered for many of the legal theories and opinions she espoused during her 27 years on the U.S. Supreme Court, but more than anything else, she will be remembered for the critical role she played in advancing equality for women.

Sep 24, 2020 2:04 PM CDT

How Black female prosecutors are challenging the status quo and fighting for reform

Black female prosecutors—a small cadre of top district attorneys across the country—have faced more scrutiny and second-guessing than their white or male counterparts. They’ve also been subjected to racist and violent threats and sexist attacks.

Sep 10, 2020 12:22 PM CDT

How law firms can increase diversity among equity partners

I often tell the legal students I mentor that I know how lucky I am to be where I am today.

Sep 10, 2020 11:32 AM CDT

Working Mother’s list of best law firms for women marks progress over 5 years

The number of female lawyers promoted to equity partner has increased by almost 25% in the past five years, according to Working Mother Media’s latest list of best law firms for women.

Sep 9, 2020 2:20 PM CDT

Meet the 2020 Margaret Brent Award honorees

Updated: Despite the distance between them, an appellate judge from Washington, D.C., and four attorneys from around the country came together virtually Thursday to receive the 2020 Margaret Brent Women Lawyers of Achievement Awards.

Aug 27, 2020 1:41 PM CDT

ABA releases a cookbook to mark centennial of 19th Amendment’s ratification

“The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex,” reads the 19th Amendment, which was ratified on this day 100 years ago.

Aug 18, 2020 1:00 PM CDT

What do women have to lose if the Affordable Care Act is struck down?

The ACA has extended coverage to more than 20 million people while providing protections for women who had faced discrimination from insurers and struggled to obtain coverage. In the coming term, the U.S. Supreme Court is set to hear California v. Texas, which casts doubt on the future of women’s ability to obtain affordable insurance.

Aug 18, 2020 11:18 AM CDT